SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) – Karl-Anthony Towns had 25 points and a season-high 18 rebounds, and the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away over the final five minutes and thumped the Sacramento Kings 134-120 on Tuesday night.
Anthony Edwards and D’Angelo Russell added 28 points apiece to help the Timberwolves beat the Kings for the second time this season and the first time in front of fans at Golden 1 Center. About 1,600 front-line workers sat alongside cardboard cutouts after California eased its COVID-19 restrictions earlier this month.
Minnesota trailed 115-114 when Edwards made his fifth 3-pointer to start a 17-3 run. Towns had seven points during the stretch.
”That was the game right there,” Towns said. ”We knew we had a chance to put them away. It was the first time this season where we really had a chance to lay the hammer and we did it.”
The Timberwolves entered the game with the worst record in the NBA before beating the Kings for the second time this season. Minnesota won 116-106 at home on April 5.
Things were slightly different this time.
Both teams scored 74 points in the first half and combined for more than 200 heading into the fourth quarter.
“’I don’t think much defense was actually played,” Towns said.
Harrison Barnes and Mo Harkless scored 20 points apiece for Sacramento. The Kings have lost 10 of 11.
The Timberwolves repeatedly burned the Kings from the perimeter with 18 3-pointers, one shy of their season high.
”We got anything we wanted on the offensive end and for the most part they were getting whatever they wanted on the offensive end,” Minnesota’s Josh Okogie said. ”We were able to (get) a couple of stops and that was what got us over the top.”
Sacramento pushed Minnesota after a slow start and led 103-99 going into the fourth before getting held to 17 points over the final 12 minutes.
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